This course will examine case studies of the intentional destruction of peoples and their cultures and explore how these movements can be disrupted and resisted. We will study the use of the term “genocide” to describe atrocities, exploring the political, legal, social, and cultural ramifications. We will come to understand that despite international commitments to prohibit genocide, violence targeted against groups of people or minorities has continued to challenge global peace and prosperity. While genocides are caused by and carried out for different reasons, all genocides share similarities in progression and scope.
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/10-12/social-studies/en_ss_12_gns_elab.pdf |
Take this course if you are:
- Passionate about Human Rights
- Curious about the psychological causes of Genocide
- Want to learn about the International legal framework to prevent, stop, or prosecute acts of Genocide
- Interested in learning more about how governments can intervene in Human Rights violations around the world
Example units and focus areas:
- Ten stages of Genocide
- History of Genocide terminology and international law
- The Holocaust
- Indigenous Genocides
- Consequences of Genocides: including refugee crises and the process of building refugee camps
- Current issues including: Uighur Muslims in China, rise of Neo-Nazism and white supremacy, emergencies under Genocide in Syria, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, among others
- Inquiry assignment about one of the following Genocides: Armenia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Darfur, Guatemalan, Iraqi/Yazidi, East Timor, Guatemalan, etc.
- Acts of resistance against Genocides
- Prevention
Examples of Student Work:
During the Holocaust unit in Genocide studies Quarter 2, students presented creative projects that represent acts of resistance during the Holocaust. Students researched various resisters or acts of spiritual, cultural, armed, active, partisan, or rescue resistance. Their work is featured below: